Uzbekistan’s UzIMEI system registers nearly 98mn IMEI codes since 2019

Uzbekistan's UzIMEI system has recorded nearly 98 million IMEI codes since its inception in 2019, with Samsung, Xiaomi, and Nokia being the most frequently registered brands. Authorities clarify that the registration fee is a service charge, not a tax, and there are no current plans for its elimination.

Otabek Azimov, a department head at the Republican Centre for Management of Telecommunication Networks, which oversees UzIMEI, informed Gazeta.uz that the collected fees are allocated to system maintenance and upgrades, server operations, the advancement of the nation's telecommunications infrastructure, improved connectivity in remote regions, and staff salaries.

The center reports that importers are responsible for 95% of current registration payments. Its press service indicated that removing this fee could place additional strain on the state budget.

Out of the more than 97.8 million IMEI codes registered since 2019, 47.6 million devices, or 48.7%, were automatically registered without charge during the system's inaugural year. Subsequent registrations included 30.4 million by importers, 19.03 million by individuals, and 779,000 by local manufacturers.

By brand, Samsung leads with 35.5 million registrations, followed by Xiaomi at 18.1 million, Nokia at 7.7 million, Apple at 5.8 million, and Huawei at 2.4 million. In terms of device type, smartphones account for 72.5 million registered devices, while feature phones comprise 20.3 million. The number of blocked devices has reached 20.1 million.

Payments collected through the system totaled UZS 694 billion ($58.61 million) in 2025 and reached UZS 459.6 billion ($38.81 million) by August 1, 2026. Concurrently, customs duties from the official import of mobile devices have surpassed UZS 5 trillion ($422.22 million) over the past seven years.

Officials noted that in the system's early stages, passport information of citizens who had traveled abroad was illicitly sold on the black market for $1–$5. To counteract this, UzIMEI implemented new requirements for IMEI code registration, including Face ID verification and the use of phone numbers registered to the passport holder.

The increase in officially imported and registered devices has also facilitated the establishment of official Samsung and Xiaomi stores in Uzbekistan, according to officials. Azimov mentioned that discussions with Apple regarding an official store in Uzbekistan have been ongoing for over a year, with an opening contingent on reaching agreements concerning confidentiality policies.

Previously, phones imported for personal use were reportedly automatically registered in the UzIMEI system. Collaboration between the Customs Committee and UzIMEI has also contributed to higher customs revenues from phone imports, with nearly UZS 1 trillion ($84.44 million) collected during the first ten months of 2025.